Finding Ronan’s Heart by Melanie Moreland

Chapter Ten

Ronan

Beth checked the front door, then peeked in on Lucy and Evan. Both were asleep. She smiled when I was surprised to see Evan had crashed already.

“He had a long day.” She squeezed my hand. “A good one, thanks to you.”

She pulled me to the stairs, and I went ahead of her. She paused for a moment, then pushed the door shut behind her and followed me.

I looked at her, and she grinned. “It’s like a sock on the door in dorms.”

I waited until she walked into her room and shut the new door I had installed. I pulled her into my arms. “You use that sock a lot?”

“Never,” she admitted. “It’s been a long time for me, Ronan. In fact, it’s been so long, I don’t remember who gets tied up anymore.”

I threw back my head in laughter, managing not to be too loud. I hugged her tight. “We’ll figure that one out as we go along, little bird. Tonight, I want to be able to touch you.” I laid her hands on my chest. “And God, I want to feel these little hands all over me.”

She gazed up at me, her dark eyes wide with desire. I saw a glimmer of fear in their warm depths—a hint of vulnerability she kept hidden.

“Tell me what you want, Beth,” I murmured. “I’ll give you anything.”

“Kiss me.”

I covered her mouth with mine, lifting her up and wrapping her in my arms. I walked backward to the bed, kissing her the whole time. Her mouth was hot, her tongue like silk against mine. She tasted of ice cream, sweet and tangy. Like chocolate, rich and decadent. Like Beth. I slid my hands under her loose shirt, spreading them across the smooth skin of her back. She whimpered as I sat down, my erection pressed between us. I kissed her until she trembled, until I felt her desire overtake any fear or misgiving she harbored. I dragged my mouth across her cheek to her ear, tugging on the lobe. “Tell me.”

“I want to feel you.”

I stood and turned, laying her on the bed. I tugged my shirt over my head, letting her look. Her gaze roamed over my chest, down my abs, and lingered on my crotch.

“More?” I asked, my fingers hovering over the waistband of the sweats I was wearing.

She nodded, her breath catching in her throat as I pushed the sweats down, my cock springing free, hard and aching for her.

“Oh God,” she whimpered.

I stroked myself as I watched her. I stepped between her legs and slipped my fingers under her T-shirt. “My turn.”

She caught my hand. “I’m not, ah, pretty, like you.”

I shook my head. “I know. You’re beautiful.”

“You haven’t seen—”

I cut her off. “You. Are. Beautiful.”

Seconds later, she was naked. Her breasts were heavy, tipped with rose-colored nipples that begged for my mouth. Her hips were full, showing off the sweet indent of her waist. Her legs were long for someone so short, her calves shapely and toned. I lifted one foot, studying it.

“Little feet to match your little hands.” I kissed the high arch, trailing my fingers upward. “Perfect hips for me to grab. An ass I can’t take my eyes off.” I bent, nuzzling her breasts, pulling a nipple into my mouth and sucking. “I have fantasized about your breasts.” I switched to the other one, sucking and licking at the hard nub. “The fantasy didn’t do them justice.”

I let my hand smooth down her body until I cupped her. The heat of her blazed against my palm. She whimpered as I stared down at her.

“Beautiful,” I whispered.

She pulled my head down to kiss me. I let her lead, her tongue playing with mine. I slid my finger through her slick center, touching her, claiming her. She moaned low in her throat as I explored her. Learned what made her gasp, arch into my touch, whimper, and moan. I kissed her mouth, suckled her earlobes, licked her neck, gathered her curls in my fist and turned her head, nuzzled at the juncture where her shoulder and neck met, drawing the skin between my teeth and biting down. She ran her hand over my back, clutched at my shoulders, yanked on my hair, and wrapped her legs around my waist, pleading. I slid one finger inside her heat, pumping. I added a second, pressing on her clit with my thumb, making sure to apply the right pressure. She gasped and lifted her hips, moving in tandem with my fingers until she came. Her eyes wide and open, her neck straining, the arch of her back so high it was a graceful bow in the air. I covered her mouth, swallowing her scream, working her until she collapsed, her muscles fluttering around my fingers like small kisses on the digits. I eased back, looking down at her. Her chest was flushed, the skin pink and glowing. Her nipples were red and hard from my mouth. My fingers were still inside her, and as she watched, I withdrew them, then lifted them to my mouth and sucked. “Perfect,” I murmured.

“I’m on the pill,” she said, breathless.

I reached over to her nightstand and lifted a string of condoms lying on the wood. For a moment, she frowned in confusion, then a grin lit her face.

“Paige.”

I held them up. “Six,” I mused. “She has a lot of confidence in me.”

“How about you use one and getin me?” Beth asked, reaching for them.

I held them higher. “Tell me.”

“I want you inside me, Ronan. I want to feel that huge cock of yours.” Her breath stuttered. “Please.”

“Since you said the magic word.” I tore open a package, rolling on the condom. Beth pushed herself toward the middle of the bed, and I crawled up the mattress, settling between her legs. “Show me.”

She wrapped her hand around my cock, guiding me to her entrance. I groaned at her touch, the feel of her stroking me before she notched the head to her heat.

“Please,” she whispered again. Our eyes locked and held as I slid in. She was tight, warm, and perfect. I took my time, slowly inching forward, feeling the heat and perfection of her fist around me. She exhaled when I was seated deep within her, our bodies flush. I braced myself on my elbows, hovering above her.

“Okay, little bird?”

“More.”

I began to move. She tightened her legs around me, meeting my thrusts. I wanted to take it slow. Be gentle with her. But it was impossible. She felt too good, and I wanted her too much. I took her powerfully, my hips moving of their own accord. Deeper, harder, faster. She whimpered and moaned, grabbing my arms, digging her nails into my back, kissing me with a passion that made me dizzy. I slid my arms under her and sat up on my heels, sinking even deeper. She let her head fall back, and I ravished her neck, sucked her breasts, and rode her until she came. Pulsating around me, setting off my own orgasm. It exploded like a storm, obliterating everything in its path. I cursed and shook with the force of it. Gripped her to me as I rode it out. Fisted the curls I found so alluring on her head and kissed her mouth with a fury I didn’t know I possessed. She gripped me back, her nails sinking deeper, her pussy milking me for everything I had, closing around me like a vise until we were panting, exhausted, and sated.

I held her close. Felt her rapid heartbeat against my own. I kissed her head and mumbled words of warmth, worship, and affirmation. There was no doubt if I adored her prior to making love to her, my affection had grown tenfold.

I drew back, meeting her sleepy gaze. I kissed her once, twice, three times, then again. I kissed the end of her upturned, adorable nose and along the line of freckles. Then I laid her back on the mattress and withdrew, my body already objecting to being removed from hers.

I disposed of the condom and returned to the bed.

“Should I go?” I asked.

She lifted the blanket. “No.”

I slid in beside her, pulling her into my arms.

“Good.”

She nuzzled my chest and shut her eyes. In seconds, she was asleep.

It didn’t take me long to follow her.

* * *

Beth

I toweled my hair dry, using the damp fabric to wipe off my shoulders. I studied my reflection in the mirror, recalling last night.

Ronan’s passion. His gentleness. His demands. How it felt when he touched me. Kissed me. The way he felt moving inside me. The whispered, fervent word he repeated all night.

Beautiful.

He made me feel that way. I wasn’t too short. Too chubby. Too hippy. Too much effort. Too anything except—his.

We’d dozed for a while, then he’d made love to me again, this time slowly. Then again as the early light began outside my small window. This time, he took me from behind, easing into me, teasing my clit with his fingers as he pulled my head back to his, kissing me hard, swallowing my moans.

He slipped away while I was sleeping, but on his pillow, he left a piece of paper with a heart drawn on it. Somewhere in my sleep-riddled mind, I recalled the press of his lips on my forehead and low murmured words before the sound of my door closing.

I smiled at the memories. Ran my fingers over my lips, still feeling his mouth. Touched the small purple mark at the juncture of my neck that he had left. He’d seen it as well, grinning and touching his mouth to it in a soft kiss.

“Marked as taken,” he murmured.

Upstairs, I heard multiple footsteps, and I knew I had to get going. Evan had to go to school, I had studying to do, and Paige would have a million and one questions. I was grateful Lucy would be home today. I couldn’t talk much with her around. Plus, I was going into the restaurant early today. There was another large order for cakes, and I wanted to get ahead if I could. Mike promised there would be one free oven so I could at least get a few done. That would save me from some of the inquisition.

I was afraid the smile on my face would only encourage her, yet I didn’t seem able to stop it from happening.

* * *

It was almost closing when I carried in a tray of utensils from the kitchen to the dining area. It had been steady all night but not crazy. Jane had cleaned the restaurant, and once the last couple of tables left, I would close up and head home. I had heard the bell and had to force a smile to my face. We stopped taking orders fifteen minutes before we closed, and whoever had walked in was cutting it close. I hoped they wanted an order to go.

I wasn’t expecting to see Ronan sitting in the booth. He had sent a couple of messages during the day and left a voice mail that caused a blush to settle under my skin.

“I can still taste you, little bird,” he murmured into the phone. “Leaving you today was hard. Sort of like my cock has been all day every time I think of you. I’ll see you soon.”

He stood, meeting me halfway across the diner, taking the heavy tray from my hands.

“Hey, pretty girl.” He smiled and bent down, brushing my cheek with his lips.

“What are you doing here?”

He frowned. “I came to drive you home. It’s raining,” he added, as if that would explain everything.

“Ronan, I go home in the rain all the time. I don’t melt.”

He shook his head. “Not on my watch.”

Before I could argue, a customer approached the cash register, and I hurried over to settle the bill. When I went back to the booth, Ronan was busy wrapping the utensils as if he had done it a hundred times before.

I slid in and picked up a pile of the napkins. “You’re doing my job now, too?” I asked wryly.

He shrugged. “I did this when I worked at a deli. It’ll help you, plus, I get to have you close.” He flashed a grin. “Then I’ll drive you home.”

“Are you hungry?”

He shook his head. “I ate.”

“I don’t expect you to be here every night to drive me,” I said quietly.

“Good. I can’t promise to be here every night. But when I can be, I will.”

“Ronan, I can take care of myself.”

He met my eyes, his gaze intense. “I know you can. It’s one of the things I find so attractive about you—your independence. But I’m around, I have a car, and I felt like driving you. Nothing wrong with that.” He hunched closer, dragging his fingers over my hand slowly. “I was hoping you’d let me kiss you when we were alone in the car.”

I hooked my baby finger with his, holding tight. “I might.”

“Excellent.”

“I might invite you in.”

“Even better.”

“Still want to kiss me?”

“My cock wants to kiss you. Deeply. Repeatedly. Hard.”

I blinked. “Well, that went in another direction fast.”

He grinned. “Just saying. I think we’re addicted.”

The last customer approached the register, and I slid out of the booth and closed the tab for him. He was older, with silver hair. He slipped on his coat and helped his wife with hers, smiling as he buttoned it up as she shook her head.

“I can do that, Timothy.”

He bent and kissed the end of her nose. “But I like to.”

They left hand in hand, and I watched them with a smile. I locked the door behind them, pulling down the blinds after switching the sign to “Closed.” Ronan was grinning as I got to the booth.

“Charmer.”

“Remind you of anyone?” I asked. I could see Ronan in forty years, doing the same thing. He already acted that way with his courteous gestures.

He rolled the last of the utensils. “Done.” He stood and lifted the tray. “Where does this go?”

I knew better than to argue with him. I pointed to the counter, and he carried it over. I quickly cleaned the last tables and took the dishes to the kitchen. When I returned, Ronan was waiting patiently.

“Any cakes tonight?”

“No, I got a bunch done earlier. That company from last week ordered six this week. Another place in the same building ordered four.” I shook my head. “I have no idea how they found out.”

“Good news travels fast. Someone must have eaten here and liked the cake. Made a call.” He shrugged. “It’s great cake.” He smiled. “Can I take you home now, Beth?”

I returned his smile, grateful he was here. It was raining hard outside, and I really didn’t want to have to run to the corner in the deluge.

I took his proffered hand, letting him lead me. “Yes.”

We pulled into the driveway. The outside light was on, and I could see the soft light from the kitchen burning inside, but the rest of the house was in darkness. I unclipped my seat belt and glanced at Ronan. He was already turned toward me, his gaze intense.

“Thanks for the ride.” I swallowed, the air in the car suddenly thick. “Did you—did you want to come in?”

He stroked my cheek with the backs of his fingers. “Are you tired, little bird?”

I shook my head.

He grinned and leaned close, brushing his mouth where his fingers had just been. “Fibber. I can see you are. I kept you up most of the night.”

“I liked being up with you.”

He groaned at my words. “Don’t make this harder.”

I edged closer, sliding my hand up his thigh, feeling him thick and solid beneath my fingers. I squeezed him gently.

“Too late, I’d say.”

He yanked me close, kissing me. His tongue played over mine, stroking and fierce. I whimpered as he delved his hand into my hair, stroking my scalp. He seemed to love the curls I despised since I was never able to do anything to them. They had a mind of their own, and the more I tried to control them, the wilder they became. Ronan was constantly playing with them, burying his nose into them and inhaling. Staring at them.

“Come in with me,” I pleaded against his mouth.

He shut off the car.